Athletics' 1B Nick Kurtz leaves early after being hit in wrist by pitch in game vs. Red Sox
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz left Wednesday night's matchup with the Boston Red Sox after he took a pitch to his left wrist.
Kurtz, in the opening inning of the contest at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, took an inside pitch from Patrick Sandoval directly to his left wrist as he checked his swing. Kurtz immediately started hopping around, and bent over a few steps away from the plate, clearly in a lot of pain.
Kurtz was in pain after a scary hit-by-pitch, but he's staying in the game 💪 pic.twitter.com/THBlkSJatE
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 30, 2026
While he initially remained in the game, the Athletics pulled him from the contest by the next inning. Jeff McNeil came in to replace him at first.
Further specifics on Kurtz's injury are not yet known.
Kurtz entered the night with a .260 batting average with 21 home runs and 69 RBI on the season, his second with the Athletics. The 23-year-old earned his first career All-Star nod earlier this summer.
Kurtz is now the second player in this series to go down with a wrist injury after being hit by a pitch. Boston Red Sox infielder Curtis Mead was diagnosed with a wrist fracture on Monday in what was his first game with the franchise following a trade from the Nationals. He's expected to miss up to eight weeks.
The Athletics carried a 45-62 record into Wednesday's contest, which has them in fourth in the AL West. They fended off a late Red Sox comeback on Tuesday night to pick up a 4-3 win.
The Red Sox, who have won nine of 12 games coming out of the All-Star break, sit at 55-51 on the season. They are in third in the AL East but hold the second AL wild-card spot.
